The second volume of the Domesday Books, set shortly after the Norman Conquest in England, follows Soldier Ralph Delchard and lawyer Gervase Bret as they are drawn into the investigation into the murder of a powerful landholder's son.
The Ravens of Blackwater (Domesday Books)
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From Publishers Weekly
The murder of a Norman lord in late-11th century England brings together Chancery clerk Gervase Bret and highborn soldier Ralph Delchard in a second case, after The Wolves of Savernake. During William the Conqueror's consolidation of power in England, the two are sent, along with two clerics, to the Essex town of Maldon to investigate the charges of land-transfer irregularities against the powerful Norman, Hamo FitzCorbucion. On arrival, the foursome finds Hamo out of the country and his cruel eldest son, Guy, recently murdered, allegedly by the son of a serf who died during brutal and undeserved punishment. Guy's younger brother proves a wily opponent of the king's investigation, as Gervase, convinced by a local priest of the charged youth's innocence, begins his probe of Guy's death. Marston draws a resonant and historically accurate picture of life during the period, creating lively and appealing protagonists as well as believable deep-dyed villains.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
YA?The second volume of this historical mystery series is set during the reign of William the Conqueror. The story begins as the king's agents journey to Maldon, Essex, to untangle and document the massive real-estate/legal mess resulting from the Norman takeover of Saxon holdings, and to enter their findings in the Domesday Book. Despite this dry-sounding beginning, the novel quickly picks up as lawyer Gervase Bret and his companions hear rumors enroute that all is not well in Maldon. The town has a very dark shadow indeed, in the family of FitzCorbucion of Blackwood Hall, Normans who have strong-armed and swindled their neighbors for years. Just as William's men arrive to settle accounts, the despicable eldest FitzCorbucion son is murdered. Since practically the entire population has good reason to wish ill of the family, Gervase Bret has to rely on perceptive detecting skill to uncover the identity of the killer. The kindness and humanity of this character will appeal to readers as he investigates those who seem to have the most at stake, including a young man in love with the FitzCorbucion daughter and the unjustly accused slave wronged by the family. Many YAs will like the clearly delineated good and evil characters, and the equal time given to teenage protagonists. History buffs will thoroughly enjoy this portrayal of life in 11th-century England.?Catherine Noonan, Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
By Claudia
Format:Hardcover
If you love mysteries, combined with incredibly well written historical setting you will thoroughly enjoy this series. You will not be disappointed, the only problem is it will spoil you and I find it hard to read anything else.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.2 out of 5 stars
5 reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Enchanting!
July 29 2000
By Lee F. Bonaldi
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Knowing nothing about The Domesday mysteries, or Edward Marston, I purchased this because of my fascination with the time period and my interest in murder mysteries. This satisfied both. Not only is it a very good mystery in its own right, but Marston does an excellent job of portraying the period. I would recommend this to any mystery lover. You will find the setting to be enchanting!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good Mystery
May 26 2000
By A Customer
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Mass Market Paperback
The Ravens of Blackwater is the second entry of Edward Marston's Domesday Books. Marston has a good sense of his period and focuses on the tensions between Saxons and Normans that dominated the time of William the Conqueror. He also has a well-researched feel for medieval legalities, church practice, and the blood-thirstiness underlying social relationships. All these qualities come together in a good mystery with a suspenseful ending.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
The story kept me involved from first page to last.
Sep 1 2009
By L. J. Roberts
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
First Sentence: Blackwater Hall seemed to hover like a bird of prey over the river estuary whose name it held in its eager talons.
Norman-born soldier Sir Ralph Delchaird and Briton/Saxon lawyer, Gervase Bret, along with two clerics, travel to the Esex town of Maldon to investigate possible land-transfer irregularities for King William and the Domesday Book. The eldest son of FitzCorbucion of Blackwood Hall, the family suspected of illegal dealings, has been murdered. His younger brother is certain of the murderer; Delchaird and a married priest in the town, are less convinced.
The first thing I appreciated about this about this book, and the series, is that each incident is based an actual entry in the Domesday Book.
The difference between the two men's backgrounds, both in origin and experience, gives good contrast and makes them a great team. The book has delightful humor which offsets the occasional violence and darkness of the period.
Marston conveys the period well; he certainly doesn't pretty it up at all. In fact, to me, the sign of an author who has done his research and whose books are historically accurate is when you read books by other authors set in the same period and all their facts mesh.
The story is well done and kept involved from the first page to the very last. I highly recommend it for any who loves history, mysteries, and/or both.
THE RAVENS OF BLACKWATER (Hist. Mys-Ralph Delchard/Gervase Bret-England-1000s) - VG
Marston, Edward - 2nd in series
St. Martin's Press, 1994, US Hardcover - ISBN: 0312113307
Norman-born soldier Sir Ralph Delchaird and Briton/Saxon lawyer, Gervase Bret, along with two clerics, travel to the Esex town of Maldon to investigate possible land-transfer irregularities for King William and the Domesday Book. The eldest son of FitzCorbucion of Blackwood Hall, the family suspected of illegal dealings, has been murdered. His younger brother is certain of the murderer; Delchaird and a married priest in the town, are less convinced.
The first thing I appreciated about this about this book, and the series, is that each incident is based an actual entry in the Domesday Book.
The difference between the two men's backgrounds, both in origin and experience, gives good contrast and makes them a great team. The book has delightful humor which offsets the occasional violence and darkness of the period.
Marston conveys the period well; he certainly doesn't pretty it up at all. In fact, to me, the sign of an author who has done his research and whose books are historically accurate is when you read books by other authors set in the same period and all their facts mesh.
The story is well done and kept involved from the first page to the very last. I highly recommend it for any who loves history, mysteries, and/or both.
THE RAVENS OF BLACKWATER (Hist. Mys-Ralph Delchard/Gervase Bret-England-1000s) - VG
Marston, Edward - 2nd in series
St. Martin's Press, 1994, US Hardcover - ISBN: 0312113307
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4.2 out of 5 stars
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